Foreign Relations

Taiwan and China quibble about everything from diplomatic slights and hidden meanings to ancient history and obscure definitions. So perhaps it's not surprising that they'd argue over two chubby animals that bite each other's ears and have trouble procreating. China's latest weapon in its increasingly effective charm offensive against Taiwan is an offer of giant pandas. Who would think of turning down two lovable animals that zoos around the world can only dream about, you might ask?

Venezuela took control this weekend of a Chinese-built communications satellite, part of a deepening trade relationship that some say illustrates waning U.S. influence in Latin America. Accompanied by Chinese technicians at a communications facility in western Guarico state, President Hugo Chavez presided at a ceremony in which Venezuela formally assumed operation of the Simon Bolivar, a $400-million satellite that China launched in October.

The highest-level meeting of U.S. and Cuban officials in Havana in years was overshadowed Saturday by a flourish of recriminations reminiscent of the Cold War-era tensions that have long polarized the two nations. The talks Friday in Havana focused on immigration issues, including visas and repatriation, part of a dialogue resumed in July after a six-year suspension. Both governments labeled the talks as positive. But on Saturday, Cuba scolded the U.S. officials, who used their visit to meet with dissidents.

Faced with resistance from key Senate Republicans, President Bush is backing away from renominating Otto J. Reich, symbol of the administration's hard-line stance toward Cuba, as his top diplomat for Latin America, Reich's allies have confirmed. For two years, Bush has stood by the outspoken Cuban American despite fierce opposition from Democrats who said Reich was unqualified for his job and tainted by his role in the Iran-Contra scandal.

Whether the second year of his presidency will find Bill Clinton devoting to national security and foreign relations challenges the time and concentration these compelling matters demand remains to be seen, but if nothing else he has now strongly signaled his intention to seek greater vigor and decisiveness in making and carrying out key policies, and that's all to the good.

After their first meeting, the leaders of nuclear rivals India and Pakistan said they had opened a new chapter in their countries' troubled relations, and resolved to work toward a peaceful end to the 57-year-old conflict over Kashmir. In a signal that economic cooperation might ultimately triumph over military conflict, they also agreed to study a plan for a gas pipeline between the countries.

After years of worldwide outrage over suffering in Darfur, the Obama administration will soon launch a new policy that could soften some longtime U.S. sanctions against the Sudanese government implicated in the large-scale killings and displacement of African tribespeople. White House officials say that specific conditions would have to be met before sanctions would be lifted, and that Sudan could face even tougher sanctions if its leaders act in bad faith.

The nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to Armenia avoided using the phrase "Armenian genocide" in her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday, but she acknowledged that Armenians had suffered mass deaths, rapes and forced exile at the hands of Turks between 1915 and 1923. Marie L.

Senators warned Thursday that Congress would not allow the Bush administration to complete pending security agreements with Iraq without lawmakers' approval, because of concerns that the pacts would tie the hands of the next president. The administration is negotiating two agreements with Iraq -- over long-term security strategy and over rules for activities of the U.S. military.

An economist who belongs to a prominent Mexican political family was sworn in as ambassador to the United States on Tuesday and vowed to improve prickly relations with the U.S. Congress. Jesus Reyes Heroles, 45, a former energy minister, also declared that his government will spend more money to help Mexican migrants in the United States. "The policy is to intensify the efforts to protect our countrymen," he told reporters.